OVERVIEW
SHELTER PLUS CARE (S+C) is a program designed to provide permanent housing and support services to homeless individuals. The Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) partners with the Austin/Travis County Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR)to administer the program.
WHO S+C HELPS
The primary target populations are homeless people who have:
- Serious mental illness; and/or
- Chronic problems with alcohol, drugs or both.
HOW S+C HELPS
The goals of the program are to:
- Increase participants’ housing stability
- Increase participants’ skills and/or income
- Obtain greater self-sufficiency; and
- Elevate the participants’ quality of life.
HOUSING OPTIONS
S+C is designed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and funded through grants awarded in HUD’s Continuum of Care process. The grant provides voucher rental assistance from the HATC for a variety of housing choices, accompanied by a range of supportive services which may funded by other sources. Continued funding is dependent upon repeated grant awards.
The HATC has a five-year grant award which began in May of 2005. Through this grant the HATC provides Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TRA), in which the participants choose their own housing and keep their rental assistance if they move. The HATC and its partner agencies may limit where participants live if necessary for the provision of support services.
The HATC operates under Housing Quality Standards (HQS) detailed in Title 24 CFR 982.401. Each selected unit must pass an inspection based on HQS standards and the HATC Administrative Plan. Repeat inspections must be passed thereafter at least annually.
QUALIFYING FOR THE PROGRAM
To be eligible for the S+C Program, a person must be both homeless and under the care of MHMR. The primary target population is those considered chronically homeless, meaning a person who has experienced multiple, ongoing episodes of homelessness. Once identified, MHMR refers qualified patients to HATC for issuance of a housing voucher.
HOMELESS DEFINITION
A person is considered homeless if he or she is:
- Sleeping in an emergency shelter;
- Sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, or abandoned or condemned buildings;
- Spending a short time (30 consecutive days or less) in a hospital or other institution, but ordinarily sleeping in the types of places mentioned above;
- Living in transitional/supportive housing but having come from emergency shelters or places not meant for human habitation; or,
- Being discharged from an institution and having no subsequent residence identified and lacking the resources and support networks needed to obtain access to housing.
APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAM
If you think you qualify or know someone who does, contact Austin/Travis County
Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) at 512-472-4141.
The Shelter Plus Care Program (S+C) is authorized under Subtitle F of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Administrating authorities of the program are bound by non-discrimination laws for protected classes within its target group (under Title 24 CFR 582.330, and discrimination laws for the disabled in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The program requires affirmative outreach to persons who may qualify for assistance, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, familial status or disability.
Administrative fees earned fund the costs of operating the program.
For questions regarding this program contact the Program Coordinater, Renea Frazier, at (512) 480-8245 Ext. 14